The trany was disassembled, cleaned, clutches redone, and the torque converter replaced. The stripped spline on the torque converter was the basic problem and considered a fluke by the shop, and possibly the spline teeth were damaged by an abrupt impact on the drive shaft (from the previous owner of course). The trany is exceptionally smooth now, basically like new. Lessons learned are indefinite, so any good input is great. I'll be more careful buying a used vehicle and be sure to change the trany and axle fluid on my Durango at proper intervals. Racoon back on the road in a sweet drive'n rig.

 

Corporate LEASE return....that says it all. Corporate vehicles in general are beat on and I am sure the company employee (s) that drove it didnt do it any favors.